Apparatus and method for imaging an object using radiation

Abstract

Disclosed herein an apparatus comprising: a radiation source configured to produce a beam of radiation toward an object; an image sensor comprising a plurality of radiation detectors spaced apart from one another. The image sensor is configured to move between a first position and a second position, relative to the object. The radiation source is configured to move along a path relative to the object. Disclosed herein is a method comprising: positioning an image sensor at a first position relative to an object, the image sensor comprising a plurality of radiation detectors spaced apart from one another; capturing a first set of images of the object, by using the radiation detectors and with a beam of radiation from a radiation source, while moving the radiation source among a first plurality of positions on a path, relative to the object; positioning the image sensor at a second position relative to the object; capturing a second set of images of the object, by using the radiation detectors and with the beam of radiation, while moving the radiation source among a second plurality of positions on the path, relative to the object.

1 . An apparatus comprising:
 a radiation source configured to produce a beam of radiation toward an object;   an image sensor comprising a plurality of radiation detectors spaced apart from one another;   wherein the image sensor is configured to move between a first position and a second position, relative to the object;   wherein the radiation source is configured to move along a path relative to the object.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the image sensor is configured to capture a first set of images of the object, by using the radiation detectors and with the beam of radiation, while the image sensor is at the first position and the radiation source is respectively at a first plurality of positions on the path;   wherein the image sensor is configured to capture a second set of images of the object, by using the radiation detectors and with the beam of radiation, while the image sensor is at the second position and the radiation source is respectively at a second plurality of positions on the path.   
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the first plurality of positions on the path and the second plurality of positions on the path are the same. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , further comprising a processor configured to stitch at least one image in the first set and at least one image in the second set. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , further comprising a processor configured to determine a three-dimensional structure of the object based on the first set of images or the second set of images. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the object is a breast of a human. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the radiation source is configured to rotate with respect to the object, while the radiation source moves along the path. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the path is an arc around the object. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the image sensor comprises a collimator with a plurality of radiation transmitting zones and a radiation blocking zone;
 wherein the radiation blocking zone is configured to block radiation that would otherwise incident on a dead zone of the image sensor, and the radiation transmitting zones are configured to transmit at least a portion of radiation that would incident on active areas of the image sensor.   
     
     
         10 . (canceled) 
     
     
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         14 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the beam of radiation is a divergent beam of radiation. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the radiation is X-ray. 
     
     
         16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . (canceled) 
     
     
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         21 . (canceled) 
     
     
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         23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . A method comprising:
 positioning an image sensor at a first position relative to an object, the image sensor comprising a plurality of radiation detectors spaced apart from one another;   capturing a first set of images of the object, by using the radiation detectors and with a beam of radiation from a radiation source, while moving the radiation source among a first plurality of positions on a path, relative to the object;   positioning the image sensor at a second position relative to the object;   capturing a second set of images of the object, by using the radiation detectors and with the beam of radiation, while moving the radiation source among a second plurality of positions on the path, relative to the object.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the first plurality of positions on the path and the second plurality of positions on the path are the same. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising stitching at least one image in the first set and at least one image in the second set. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising determining a three-dimensional structure of the object based on the first set of images or the second set of images. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the object is a breast of a human. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein moving the radiation source comprises rotating the radiation source with respect to the object. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the path is an arc around the object. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the image sensor comprises a collimator with a plurality of radiation transmitting zones and a radiation blocking zone;
 wherein the radiation blocking zone is configured to block radiation that would otherwise incident on a dead zone of the image sensor, and the radiation transmitting zones are configured to transmit at least a portion of radiation that would incident on active areas of the image sensor.   
     
     
         32 . (canceled) 
     
     
         33 . (canceled) 
     
     
         34 . (canceled) 
     
     
         35 . (canceled) 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the beam of radiation is a divergent beam of radiation. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the radiation is X-ray. 
     
     
         38 . (canceled) 
     
     
         39 . (canceled) 
     
     
         40 . (canceled) 
     
     
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         45 . (canceled)